Crankless mechanism and method of making crankless mechanisms



Dec. 22, 1931, A G M Mic-HELL 1,837,724

CRANKLESS MECHANISM AND METHOD OF MAKING CRANKLESS MECHANISMS Filed Dec.20, 1929 7 a; ff 6 l L2- ZZ Figi F2925 F g 'Il 'Il'.

INVENTOR W W Ala/w. /wf/M/ MN5/Law! ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 22, 1931UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANTHONY G. M. MICHELL, OF MELBOURNE,VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, ASSIGNOR TO MICHELL-CRANKLESS ENGINES CORPORATION,OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK CBANKLESS MEOHANISM ANDMETHOD OF MAKING CRANKLESS MCHANISMS Application'led December 20, 1929.Serial No. 415,386.

This invention relates to crankless mechanisms and particularly toreciprocating units therefor and to a method of making such units. v

An example of a crankless mechanism to which the present inventionrelates is illustrated in applicants Reissue Patent No. 15,756 grantedFebruary 5, 1924.

The reciprocating units of crankless mechanism constructed according tothe patent above mentioned comprise either one or two pistons, togetherwith two slipper elements making working engagement between the pistonor pistons and a rotating slant or swash plate, and a yoke or bridgemember which connects the piston or pistons with the supporting means ofthe slipper elements. The present invention relates to the pistonstructure, the yoke or bridge member and to the supporting means of theslipper elements.

The invention has for its salient object to l provide a reciprocatingunit for mechanism of the character specified so constructed that theunit will be light in weight but will be strong and rigid inconstruction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reciprocating unit soconstructed that it can be economically manufactured.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the followingspecification taken in 'connection with the drawings which form a lartof this application. and in which ig. 1 is a longitudinal'view partly insection and partly in elevation of a reciprocating unit constructed inaccordance'with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation taken substantially online2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of one of the disks on which the slipper pad ismounted;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view illustrating Vthe method of making theunit;

Fig. 5 is alongitudinal sectional elevation similar to Fig. 1 butshowing a slightlyl modified form of construction; and

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation taken substantially on line 66 of Fig. 5. The invention briefly described consists of a reciprocatingunit for crankless mechanism comprising and formed from a tubular memberand of a method of making a` reciprocating unit from tubular stock.Disks or heads are secured to the ends of the tubular member and withthe end portions of the member form pistons. The intermediate portion ofthe tubular member is recessed or c-ut away and provided with alongitudinal slot `formed by oppositely eX- tending walls for receivingstuds or tails carried by the slipper pads.

Further details of the invention will appear from the followingdescription.

The reciprocating unit is formed from an elongated member l0 of tubulirstock preferably of steel. The ends of the tubular member 1Q havesecured thereto in any suitable manner as by screwing or welding heads11 which form with the end portions of the tubular member pistons.

, The central portion of the tubular member is recessed or cut away toreceive the peripheral portion of the swash plate. This may be done by.cutting transverse notches 12, 12. A longitudinal cut is then madeapproximately on the line indicated as X in F ig. 4' thus removing theportion of the tubular member between. the notches and below the line X.The remaining portions of the walls of the tubular member disposedbetween the notches 12, 12 are then bent inwardly as shown inFig. 2, theinner edges 13, 13 of the walls or flanges 14 being spaced apart to forma longitudinal slot, the purpose of which will behereinafter described.The end portions of the tubular member Vforming the pistons and disposedoutwardly from the notches 12, 12 are closed by disks 15, 15 which maybe secured in any suitable manner as by welding, the welded joints beingshown at W. The disks are preferably provided with centrally disposedopenings 16 within which are secured bosses 17 having spherical seats orsockets 18 which receive the ends 13 of the bent in portions or flangeseach other for aA portion of their length a sufficient distance to meet,the meeting parts being welded to increase the strength and rigidity ofthe yoke. p

In the modified form of construction illustrated in'Figs' 'and 6 theends of the tubular member 30 are screw threaded to receive the pistonheads. The member is notched and cut away in the manner shown in Figs. 1and 4 but'the walls of the tubular member between the notches instead ofbeing bent 32 1n the manner shown in Fig. 2. Thev inwardly as shown vinFig. 2 are bent outwardly as shown in Fig. 6 to form flanges 31.

An insert preferably formed of forged steel is secured within therecessed or cut away portion of the tubular member and comprises endwalls or plates 32, 32 and a longltudinally extending curved connectlngwall 33. The wall 33 extends laterally from the tubular member and issecured at its outer edges to the flanges 31 as shown in Fig. 6. Theinsert is preferably secured in place by Welding as shown at W.

The slipper bearings and sockets for the slippers are secured to thewalls or plates 32,

' flanges 31, 31 may be machined to form bearings for guide slippers 35which are pivoted.

ill

or otherwise cammed4 by the frame of the machine and act to preventrotation of the reciprocating member about its llongitudinal axls.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that a simple,practical and relative light reciprocating unit has been designed andfurthermore, that the structure will be stiff and rugged. Also, it willbe noted that a simple, practical and inexpensive method of makingreciprocating units from tubular stock has been worked out.

Although certain specic embodiments of the invention'have beenparticularly shown and described, it will be understood that theinvention is capable of modification and that changesin the constructionand in the arrangement of the various cooperating parts may be madewithout departing from the unit for crankless mechanisms which consistsof utilizing a piece of tubular stock, securing heads to the endsthereof to form pistons, slotting the piece-in spaced planesintermediate the ends of the piece, and bending the walls to formslipper guiding means.

3. A method of making a reciprocating unit for crankless mechanismswhich consists of utilizing a piece of tubular stock, securing heads tothe ends thereof to form pistons, slotting the piece in spaced planesintermediate the ends of the piece, and bend- 4 mechanisms comprising apiece of tubular stock having heads secured to the ends thereof andhaving its central portion slotted and bent to form a hollow yokeconnecting the ends` and to form slipper guiding means, and platessecured in the centraly slotted portion having slipper bearings thereon.ANTHONY G. M. MICHELL.

spirit or scope of the invention, as expressed l in the followingclaims.

What I claim is: j

l. A method of 'making a reciprocating unit for crankless lmechanismswhich consists of utilizing a piece of tubular stock, securing heads tothe ends thereof to form pistons, slotting the piece in spaced planesintermediate the endsof the piece, and bending the walls to form a yokeconnecting the ends of the piece.

2. A method of making a reciprocating

